Support for hoops for basketball games



Oct. 13, 1953 A. c. HOLMDAHL SUPPORT FOR HOOPS FOR BASKETBALL. GAMES Original Filed July 29, 1948 I INVENTOR. v flrifizzi CHO lmda BY a! Patented Oct. 13, 1953 SUPPORT FOR HOOPS FOR BASKETBALL GAMES Arthur Carl Holmdahl, Kellogg, Iowa, assignor to Midwest Metal Stamping 00., Kellogg, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Original application July 29, 1948, Serial No.

41,311. Divided and this application March 17, 1951, Serial No. 216,161

1 Claim. 273-15) 1 This application is a division of my pending application, Serial No. 41,311, for Basketball Game, filed July 29, 1948, now Patent No.

2 2|, which is pivotally supported from the bracket I1 and is disposed below the hoop I3 within the confines of the basket Hi. The paddle 2| is 2,593,758. pivotally supported from ears 22 which are This invention relates to basketball game ap- 5 punched from the bracket H, which ears 22 supparatus. port a hinge pin 23 secured to the paddle 2|.

An object of the invention is to provide a basketball basket support of simple, durable and inexpensive construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a basketball basket support which will rigidly support the basket hoop and which will prevent excessive lateral movement thereof.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in the claim and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the basketball basket support and gong-ringing apparatus;

Figure 2 is a view taken on line 2--2 of Figure l; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the bell-ringing apparatus.

Referring specifically to the drawing for a detailed description of the invention, numeral designates any suitable support, such as a wall or backboard and numeral [2 indicates generally the hoop for a basket Ill. The hoop consists of a metal rod I3 which is bent into circular shape and terminates at both ends adjacent the backboard in downwardly extending portions M which are reversely bent upwardly, as shown at l5, and are again reversely bent downwardly, as shown at IS.

A supporting plate I1 is screwed to the backboard by two upper screws I8 and two lower screws l9. The upper screws l8 extend between reversely bent portions l5 and I6 of the hoop l2 and the lower screws l9 extend between the reversely bent portions l4 and l5 of the hoop. The screws preferably are positioned at the point of the respective bends. This provides a rigid support for the hoop portion I3, and since a horizontal part of the hoop portion is retained between the bracket l1 and the backboard H, excessive lateral movement of the hoop I3 is prevented.

The bell-ringing apparatus comprises a paddle A coil spring generally indicated at 24 is wound around the hinge pin 23 and has a V-shaped portion 25 engaging the plate H and has outwardly extending portions 26 engaging the underside of the paddle 2|, whereby the paddle 2| is normally biased upwardly.

The paddle 2| is punched out as shown at 2'! to provide a latch member 28 extending upwardly and having a hook 29 formed therein. An angular surface 30 is provided on the upper portion of the latch 28.

A bell or gong is shown at 3| and is secured to the plate I! by any suitable means. The clapper for the bell 3| is shown at 32 and is supported on a horizontally extending portion 33 of the coil spring 34. The spring 34 :is secured to the plate I! by a strap 35. As best shown in Figure 3, the extension 33 of spring 34 normally extends within the hook portion 29 of the latch 28. As the ball passes through the hoop l3 in basket ll), it depresses the paddle 2| sufficiently that the latch 28 swings about the hinge pin 23 and slides over the extension 33 of coil spring 34-, thus releasing the energy in the coil spring 34 and permitting the gong 32 to strike the bell 3|. Obviously, the bell gives an audible signal each time a ball passes through the basket. As the ball passes through the basket It, the paddle 2| is again biased upwardly by a spring 24 and the angular surface 30 of latch 28 strikes the extension 33 and slides thereover so that the extension 33 is disposed beneath the hook 29 in position for again ringing the bell 3| when a ball passes through the basket l0.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have provided an improved basket ball game apparatus including a support for the basket and an audible signal device.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claim any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within its scope without sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

I claim as my invention:

Basketball game apparatus for mounting on a back-board or the like, including a split hoop of generally circular shape terminating in two adjacent spaced ends, said ends being bent into substantially S-shape, a plate for securing the hoop to the back-board, said plate being provided with four apertures therein and being 10 adapted to: overlie theends of the hoop; and four fastening members extending through the apertures into said back-board, said apertures being so positioned that the fastening members engage with the curves of said S-shaped ends.

ARTHUR CARL HOLMDAHL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

